Za’atar Spice Blend
Za’atar Spice Blend is widely used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking and consists of roasted sesame seeds, herbs, sumac, chili flakes, and salt. And it tastes just as good as it sounds! It has a nutty, savory, and slightly tangy flavor that brings extra flavor to already-delicious dishes like pan-fried salmon, breakfast eggs, and baba ganoush for example. It’s also perfect for different marinades, salads, breads, and falafels. If earthy and citrusy flavors are your thing, you will 100% need to add this seasoning to your spice cabinet!
Homemade Za’atar Spice Blend
Za’atar is super easy to make at home and I looooove the scent of it every time I make it 😍 You might need to make a stop at a specialized grocery store to find yourself some sumac, but the other ingredients are easily found at your local grocery store!
The precise measurements of each herb/spice vary by region and the cook, but here’s how I like to make my blend. Feel free to experiment and add spices like cumin or freshly ground coriander seeds into your Za’atar!
ZA’ATAR SPICE BLEND RECIPE
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon sumac
- 1 tablespoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon marjoram
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- ½ -1 teaspoon dried chili flakes
- ½ -1 teaspoon salt (optional)
Instructions
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat until they get a beautiful golden color. This doesn’t take a long time so be careful not to burn them!
- Let the sesame seeds cool down and slightly grind them in a mortar and pestle/spice grinder. If you don’t have either of those, just add them to the mix as is. Not a big deal! Combine all of the ingredients and transfer to a glass jar. Store at room temperature and enjoy with multiple different dishes 🌱
Za’atar spice blend goes well with almost anything!! Here are a few examples of where you can use it:
- salads
- marinades
- hummus, labneh, baba ganoush, and other spreads & dips
- pita bread
- falafels
- fresh & cooked veggies
- fried eggs
- Fish (like this oven-baked za’atar salmon)
- baked/fried tofu
Za’atar with olive oil
Make a super easy & delicious bread dip that’s perfect for a mezze table! You need a few simple ingredients:
- 1,5 dl or ½ cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
- 3-4 teaspoon Za’atar spice blend
- ½ – 1 bunch of fresh parsley
- 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
- salt to taste
- Pita bread, flatbread (or whatever bread you like!) for dipping
Let’s get cookin’ 🧑🏽🍳
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